Carbon-feeding mechanism for arc lamps



July 27,1926. 1,593,912

' E. G. PERKINS CARBON FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ARC LAMPS Filed July 18 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 w gnue n loc Earl (iferkins,

- Horn;

July 27,1926. 1,593,912

' E. G. PERKINS CARBON FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ARC LAMPS Fi e y 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 2 .51 4- 6 4 g 55 Q 5/ r: 7 7 6'0 Z9 Z8 Z5 Z7 16 X0 Z7 2/ g .20

July 27,1926. 1,593,912

E. G. PERKlNS CARBON FEEDING macmmxsm FOR ARC" LAMPS Fild July 18, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 58 ZJnvcntoz G-Perkins,

E. G. PERKINS CARBON FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ARC-LAMPS July 27 1926.

Filed July-18, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 9 71 m L 1 L \c/ w w W 6 July 27,1926. 1,593,912

E. G. PERKINS CARBON FEEDINGMECHANISM FOR ARC LIAM- Filed July 18, 1922 5- Shets-Sheet 5 gwuentou ail a-Perliiins,

61 um .m

Patented July 27, 1%26.

UNITED STATES.

isaaalz PATENT OFFICE.

EARL G. PERKINS, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO; FLORENCE M. PERKINS ADMINISTRATRIX OF SAID EARL G. PERKINS, DECEASED.

CARBON-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR AR'G LAMPS.

Application filed July 18, 1922, Serial No. 575,874.

This invention relates to are lamps, and more particularly to lamps of the twin or multiple type having'a joint or common control. for the carbons.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a mechanism for exerting a direct lift on the carbons for the purpose of separation to produce the arc. That is to say, one of the novel and distinctive features of the invention is to provide lifting means for the carbons, a portion of which operates in the same vertical plane and on the same center line as the carbons to be lifted.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 4 vide means for effecting a slow, uniform separation of the carbons, thus giving the carbon points full opportunity to heat before the strength of the current is reduced by the full separation of the'carbons. In other words, the present invention aims to provide means for building up the are slowly and gradually, rather than. by a sharp,sudden separation of the carbons, thus allowing am ple time to heat, and avoiding the. usual flashing and sputtering which ordinarily attends the building up of an are. In that connection the invention proposes to utilize a yieldingly mount-ed solenoid unit whichmaterially assists, in combination with the other instrumentalities of the inventiom toobtain the desired relatively slow separation of the carbon points.

lVith the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better. understood, the same consists in the novel construction, com bination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detailsectional view illustrating the yieldingcoupling between the solenoid and the flexible connections for operating the lifting mechanism when in inoperative position.

Figure 8 is a similar view illustrating the same parts just after the solenoid is energized and the armature commences to travel downwardly.

l igure 9 is a similar View illustrating the same parts when the mechanism is in full operative position. I

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying theinvention into effect it is proposed to provide a novel operating mechanism, designated generally as A, for en. gaging and lifting the carbons, together with a novel actuating unit in the form of a yieldingly mounted solenoid device B, which cushions the movement of the solenoid when it is energized, as Well as when. it is deenergized upon the breaking of the circuit. By this novel combination and arrangement, as well as by the location and distribution of the instrumentalities for lifting the carbons, the building up of the are is slowly and gradually accomplished.

Referring now more particularly, to the operating mechanism A, and parts .asso ciated therewith, it will be observed that there is ro'vided a suitable frame including a lower ase plate 1, an uppercap plate 2, and the supportingcolumns 8, the inner face of each plate being provided with suit able sockets for receiving and anchoring the ends of the columns 3. The cap plate 2 can 'ries four depending lugs 4, each of which is.

shoulder 7' to engage the lug 4, thus holding the shaft 5 against longitudinal movement, as well as insulating the two bifurcated rocker arms from each other.

Swinginglyconnected with the free end of each bifurcated rocker arm 8 is a link.9, the upper end of which is also swingingly connected with a yoke or cross-head 10 carried at the upper ends of the lifting rods 11. These lifting rods 11 carry attheir lower ends another cross head or yoke 12 having hinged thereto a suitable carbon. clutch 13. Ealidably mounted upon the lifting rods 11 is a carbon carrier 14 having a central opening adapted to receive the upper carbon stick 15, which may be locked therein by means of a thumb screw 16 or its equivalent.

ith the arrangement described, it will be apparent that the lifting means for the upper carbons is arranged in such manner that the lifting force is exerted in direct alignment with, and in the same vertical plane as, the carbons.

As previouslypointed out, the crank arms 6, which are connected with the solenoid B as will hereinafter more fully appear in detail. are longerithan the arms 8 and there fore ample power is transmitted to the links 9' connecting wi-tlrthe intermediate portion of the yoke piece 10 to easily lift the rods 11. This organization of parts constitutes one ofthe novel and distinctive features of the present improven'ient, and provides a well balanced and stable construction, which reliably and effectively functions under the actuating influence of the solenoid unit'B.

In connection with the solenoid unit B, whichalso constitutes a further novel and distinctive part of the present invention, it will be observed that the same is slidably and yieldingly mounted uponthe supporting coluniins 3 in such manner that it will move upwardly whenenergized, thus relieving the operating connections ofthe sudden shock which would be incident to their use with a stationary solenoid;

While it is, of course, possible to mount the solenoid in various ways, a practical form of mounting is illustrated in the drawings. from which it will be observed that duplicate plates 17 and 17 are provided withthe-notched portions 17 for slidably engaging with the standards8. These plates 17 and 17. have arranged therebetween the solenoid 18 andfiare securely held together by the tie-rods 19.. And for the purpose of insulating the lifting rods 11, clutch 13 and carbon 15 from the frame, an insulating disk 19 having a'central carbon guiding opening is employed.

liflounted upon the columns .3 between the plates 17 and 17 are two sets of coil springs 20 and: 20, whoseouter ends abut against the platesw-hile the inner ends engage with a pin 21or other suitable abutments on the rods so that the plates 17 and 17 are yield ingly supported on the columns.

This method of mounting the solenoid not only tends to soften and relieve the shock and strain incident to operation, but also makes the changing of solenoids a very simple matter. \Vhen the nuts on the tie-rods are loosened, the plates'17 and 17 will move away from each other under pressure of springs 20 and 20., after which the solenoid may be lifted out and a new one set in, and turning up the nuts finishes the operation.

Reciprocatingly mounted within the solenoid 18 is an armature 22 the upper end 23 of which carries a cross head 24: having attached thereto a relatively thin metal strip or plate 25 carrying at each end an up-' standing pin or post, preferably in the form of a headed bolt 26, upon which is slidably mounted a cross-bar 27. Upon each of the bolts 26, between the headthereof and the cross-bar 27, is a coil spring 28, the purpose of which is hereinafter explained. As will be observed from Figures 2, 6 and 7, the crossbar 27 has pivotally connected to'its central portion a. piston rod 29 having atits upper end a piston head 30 slidably mounted in a dash pot 31 suspended from the cap plate 2.

The bolts 26, cross-bar 27, and springs 28 constitute a relatively yielding or elastic coupling device, designated generally as C, for connecting the arn'iature 23. with the crank arms 6 through the medium of the flexible connections 32. Thus, in addition to providing a yieldingly mounted solenoid unit B, a yielding coupling C is provided between the solenoid and the crank arms (3. which materially contributes to the cushioning and shock absorbing features of the device.

Depending from the base platel is a supporting rod 33 carrying atits lower end an adjustably mounted cross bar 34., which is held in any dcsiredposition on the rod by means of a thumb screw 35, the end of which engages in a slot 35, thereby insuring perfeet alinement of. the cross-bar 341;. At each end the said crossbar 34 is provided with a carbon carrier 36 which receives the low er carbon 37 and is provided with athumb screw 38 for rigidly holding the carbon in place.

lVith reference to the general operation of the device, it may be pointed out that when the lamps are not burning the relative position of the yielding coupling device C and the solenoid 18 is as shown in. Figure 7. lVhen the solenoid is energized-the armature 22 will travel downwardly, drawing with it the metal. strip 25, attached to'the crosshead 24L, and the posts 26, compressing the springs 28 against the cross-bar 27 (see Figure 8) until the pressureof the springs 1s suthclent to rockthe arms-5 against the resistance of the lifting mechanism. if At this point, while the armature continues to travel downwardly, the springs 28 will begin to expand, thusgentlyforcing the crossbar 27 downwardly somewhat faster than the travel of the armature, so that when the armature reaches the limit of its travel, the" relative position of the parts will be as shown in Figure 9, and the arc will be built up and the lampsburning.

As the bifurcated rocker arms 8 and crank arms 6 have a fixed radial position on the shafts 5, the downward movement of the arms 6'will cause the outer ends of the arms 8 to move upwardly, and, through the medium of the links 9 between the rocker arms and the yoke 10, cause the lifting rods 11 to also move upwardly. As this upward movement of the lifting rods takes place, the

clutch 13 will engage the upper carbon stick 15 and gradually separate it from the lower carbon stick, thus building up-the arc. Figures 1 and 3.)

In connection withthe movement of the (See bifurcated rocker arms8 to lift the links 9,

it is pointed out that these arms act as guides within which the lifting rods 11 must move upwardly in a straight line without swaying or swinging. This has the beneficial result of causing the upper carbon to 'move upwardly. in a positively'straight line,

thereby insuring perfect alinement of the upper carbonkwith the lower carbon atall times, regardless of the length or position of either.

Because of the fact that the speed of travel of the armature 22 gradually decreases as it passes into the solenoid by reason of the corresponding decrease in the magnetic energy acting upon it, due to increasing arc length, it will be apparent that the tendency of the shafts 5 to move faster near the ends of their arcs of movement is counteracted or equalized,-so that a substantially uniform rate of movement is imparted to the rocker shafts during the entire movement of the armature, thus assuring a steady, gradual, uniform movement of the carbon electrodes while building up the arc.

Also, as previously indicated, the bifurcated rocker arms 8 are shorter than the crank arms 6, by reason of which it is obvious that the lifting rods 11 ill travel a shorter distance than that traveled by the armature in the solenoid, the ratio adopted being substantially 1 to 2. By reason of this arrangement, slight changes in the position of the armature, due to fluctuations in the voltage, produce little or no effect in the arc, thus adding stability and uniformity to the functioning of the latter on unstable power lines.

The coil springs 28 mounted upon the posts 26 also add to the stability and uniformity of the functioning of the arc, as

tervening connections to the carbon sticks.

In other words, the downward pressure upon the crossbar 27, caused by the downward movement of the armature, 1s applled through the springs 28. This is especially important in the use of an alternating current, where vibrations are more pronounced.

Another function of springs 28, acting in conjunction with springs 20 and 20 is to produce a steady, smooth initial separation of the carbon points. lVhen the solenoid is energized and commences to exert its magnetic influence upon thearmature, the tendency of the former will be to move upwardly, which it will do slightly until the resistance of the lower springs 20 is sufficient to check such movement. Likewise, a similar action of the upper springs 20, also in conjunction with springs 28, will relieve the jar or shock of operation when the solenoid is de-energized.

Without further description itis thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will. of course, be

understood that changes in the form, prospecial utility in its application to carbon feed mechanism for are lamps, this phase of the invention is susceptible of broader application where a solenoid mounting of that character could be advantageously em ployed with other devices and mechanisms to be actuated therefrom.

I claim:

1. In an arc lamp, carbon lifting means comprising a rectangular open frame having carbon engaging means, a pair of rocker shafts arranged at the upper end of the frame, offset lifting arms carried by said rocker shafts, links connecting the lifting arms with an upper transverse portion of said frame, and a solenoid unit for actuating said rocker shaft.

2. A carbon feeding mechanism for arc lamps including carbon lifting means consisting of a pair of rods, upper and lower cross pieces connecting said rods, a rocker shaft disposed at right angles to the rods, a rocker arm disposed radially with reference to the rocker shaft, a link connecting the outer end of the rocker arm and intermediate portion of the upper cross piece connecting the rods, and a solenoid unit for actuating said rocker shaft.

3. A carbon feeding mechanism for are lamps including carbon lifting means consistmg of a pair of lifting rods, a cross plece connecting the upper ends of said rods,

actuating means for said lifting means consisting of a-pair of rocker shafts having in wardly extending offset arms, links c0nnect- .ing said arms with the cross piece connecting the rods, and a solenoid unit for actuating said rocker arms.

4. A carbon feeding mechanism for are lamps including carbon lifting means consisting of a pair of lifting rods, a cross piece connectii'ig the upper ends of said rods, a

sisting of a pair of spaced lifting rods, a.

cross piece connecting the upper ends of said rods, a pair of rocker shafts arranged at right angles to the rods, bifurcated rocker arms carried. by said shafts and arranged so that the rods have a guiding engagement between the members of the bifi'ircated rocker arms, links connecting the rockearms with the cross piece between the rods, and a solenoid unit for. actuating the rocker shaft.

6. A carbon feeding mechanism for are lamps of the multiple type including a frame, carbon lifting devices arranged in said frame to operate in parallel planes and in spaced relation, a pair of rocker shafts arranged adjacent the upper end Off said carbon lifting devices, offset arms carried by said rocker shafts and. operatively connecting with the carbon lifting devices, and a solenoid unit arranged between the carbon lifting devices and beneath the rockershafts and operatively connected with the said rocker shafts to-actuate the same.

7. A carbon feeding mechanism for are and arranged to ope-rate in a plane parallel.

to the axes of the carbons, horizontally disposed rocker shafts journalcd in the upper plate, rocker arms carried by said rocker shafts, links connecting the rocker arms with the carbon lifting devices, and a solenoidunit mounted on said srutiportiug columns and operatively connected with the rocker shafts.

8. In a carbon feeding mechanism for are lamps, carbon lifting means, a solenoidwunit for actuating said lifting 'n'leans, said unit including a slidably mounted solenoid, a yielding coupling carried by the armature of the solenoid and comprising bolts carried by the armature, springs on said bolts, a crosshead having a guiding engagement with said bolts and adapted totoperate against the tension of the spring, and opcrating connections between the crosshead and the carbon lifting. means.

In anarc lamp, :1 carbon feeding mechanism including a carbon holding frame having a clutch andv means for actuating said frame including a,solenoid-, and means for yieldingly mounting said solenoid comprising rods, a solenoid carrying frame adapted to be guided on said rods, an abutment on the rods within the limits of the frame, and springs arranged between opposite frame. parts and said abutments.

In. testimony whereofI hereunto affix my signature.

EARL G. PERKINS.

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